20 Ton Jack Press

I need a tall press with a lot of force. I purchased a 20 ton “air over hydraulic” jack from Harbor Fright. Here is what my frame looks like. I started with two pieces of 2”x2” steel tubing with a 0.25” wall thickness. This stuff weights about 5 pounds per foot, so need to keep weight in mind if I want it to be portable, at all. The two main frame pieces were welded together at each end with a 1”x1” square tube. When taken apart for transport, the two main frame tube and these small connecting tubes total to about 60 pounds.



The base that the jack sits on, slips into place between the mail frame and is connected to the frame by two 3/4" bolts. . The base is drilled for pins that the jack will sit on. This keeps the jack in place and also allows for easy removal of the jack for transport. At the time of this photo, I have yet to install the pins. The base is constructed of 2 pieces of 3” steel channel with a piece of 2”x2”x0.25” tube welded between them.



Here it is with the jack mounted. I still need to put a platform type plate on top of the jack to set the spindle base or powder die on, while pressing. That is the last task I have to do before the press is operational



The item to be pressed will be between the jack and a pressure cylinder that is mounted to the header cross bar. The header cross bar is constructed similar to the base, with two 3” channel pieces and a tubing piece between them. The pressure cylinder has 3 square inches of piston surface and a 15,000 PSI gauge to handle the possible 40,000 pounds from the jack.



I think I will add some "A" type legs to the sides, that will easily bolt on, just to keep it from tipping over.